Show's producer will appear in multiple episodes

Salma Hayek's last role on an American prime-time series was on "The Sinbad Show" in 1993. She was a regular for about a month before her character was written out of the FOX sitcom.

Things have worked out okay for her since then, what with her being an Oscar nominee and one of the most famous actresses in the world and all. And, because of that, she's now returning to prime-time TV.

Hayek, an executive producer of ABC's new series "Ugly Betty," will go in front of the camera for several episodes starting Thursday, Nov. 2 -- the first night of November sweeps. She'll be playing a character named Sofia Reyes, who ABC describes as "a newcomer to the Mode scene who will leave a lasting impression on Daniel Meade (Eric Mabius) and Betty Suarez (America Ferrera)."

Hayek has already done an uncredited cameo on the show's pilot, appearing as an actress in a telenovela (which is how she got her start in showbiz) playing in Betty's home.

"Ugly Betty" has helped ABC change its fortunes on Thursday nights this season. The critically hailed show has drawn better than 15 million viewers per week in its first three airings and a pretty solid 4.8 rating among the all-important adults 18-49 demographic. Both numbers are almost double what the network drew at 8 p.m. on Thursdays last season.

ABC rewarded the series with a full-season pickup at the end of last week.